RedLife Coffee is owned by The Calvary Church, which is based in Springdale. The church also has campuses in Brookville and Eaton.
It purchased the Alexander House in November 2021, and the space has been fully renovated. The coffee shop opened Aug. 30 and hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 6.
“We wanted to create a space that maintained the historical charm of the building, and at the same time, we wanted it to be a space that the community could use, be a part of, and enjoy,” Ellis said.
The plan for the rest of the year, and into 2025, is to conduct services in the building on Sundays. Long-term, the goal would be to have “a stand-alone church down the road,” Ellis said.
“We obviously are going to have services and those kinds of things, and we were looking for a building to have it in, but as we were looking, we also considered how we could best serve the community, to add value, and the coffee shop was something that emerged out of those conversations,” Ellis said.
RedLife Coffee employs a few church members, but most of the staff are Miami University students and members of the Oxford community.
“RedLife Coffee is a name that speaks to both our love for the community, and our love for Jesus Christ,” Ellis said. “Everything that we’re doing is reflective of Christ.”
RedLife Coffee specializes in coffees, expressos, lattes, teas, cold brews, and more as well as treats. The crepes are named after the people that created them.
For example, “The Taylor” was named after a person that came up with the recipe. “The Taylor” is a unique twist on a classic crepe combination. The single crepe includes a combination of strawberry, Nutella, and marshmallow fluff topped with cinnamon.
“We’ve had a positive response from the community. People seem to enjoy not only the coffee, and crepes, but the space,” Ellis said. “It’s an incredible place for those looking for conversation, or to study. We just love being able to provide the space to the community.”
Formerly a historic home, the interior space has various rooms, including a living room, dining room, a study and a great room. Outside, there’s a front porch, a deck and a back patio.
RedLife Coffee is located at 22 N. College Ave. in Oxford.
MORE DETAILS
Event: The Calvary Church Oxford will present a Christmas Worship Night with special guest James Wilson at 5 p.m. on Dec. 14 at RedLife Coffee. The event will kick off with a Coffee & Connect at 4:30 p.m.
Toys for local school: RedLife Coffee has partnered with the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation to spread holiday cheer this Christmas season. Through Dec.14, community members can bring in a new toy to donate to Kramer Elementary and receive 5 % off of an order.
More online: www.redlifecoffee.com and www.facebook.com/RedLifeCoffee
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